7 Things That Might be Causing Stress at a Workplace

Is our job seriously stressing us out? Well, we are not the only ones. According to a 2017 American Psychological Association report, almost 61% of Americans say their job is one of the biggest stressors in their life.

The truth is, the concerning statistics are not a surprise. A lot of people have to work increased hours at a job they don’t even like. Also, here’s the pressure from the high expectations which can sometimes be unrealistic.

When you think about workplace wellness, you may imagine standing desks, company-supported exercise, meditation or yoga classes, more healthy food in the workplace cafeteria, smoking cessation program, etc.

These conditions will undoubtedly improve the health of employees. However, if your workplace is sick, all these things won’t change the root cause of the problem. Putting a few bunches of broccoli in a hamburger won’t make it healthier, right?

So, here are some of the factors that make your workplace a source of stress.

7 Things That Make Your Workplace Stressful

1. Lack of Autonomy

A lot of people have a lack of autonomy at work. They are not allowed to send one simple email without asking for permission from their boss.

But, doing your job with constant checking in for every little step you take can be really frustrating and counterproductive. Some bosses don’t understand that this way of functioning only wastes time and resources.

2. Unclear Role

A lot of employees have unclear expectations about what they are supposed to be doing. They don’t know if their job overlaps with someone else’s which makes them unsure how much time to spend on a certain project.

And, when there are lulls, they are ashamed and worried that they don’t have anything immediate to work on. In other words, they know they have to work something, but are not sure what. Unclear roles of employees make them less effective.

3. Constant Interruptions

Nowadays, we are getting more and more used to interruptions in the workplace and personal life. You always hear that loud dinging sound from some notification on your phone or laptop.

Emails or texts interrupt you while talking to someone, or while working on something. So, instead of focusing and coming up with new brilliant ideas, your attention is always compromised.

And, this affects your productivity while contributing to your stress and frustration.

4. Lack of Feedback

When bosses don’t have the habit to give any feedback to their employees, it results in stress, anxiety, and lack of productivity. Employees have to know the things they did great and the things they need to improve a little more.

Otherwise, they will have no idea where they stand and will keep on making the same mistakes. Praising and constructive criticism should be part of everyone’s job.

5. Not Getting Real Vacation Time

When employees feel ashamed to take days off, it affects the culture of the workplace. Being in desperate need to take a break for so long diminishes their creativity and productivity.

What’s worse, in some workplaces, the employees are expected to be on call when an “emergency” arises even when they are on vacation. Also, sick days are not what they used to be. In many workplaces, they mean working from home not to infect anyone.

6. Personal Attacks or Unsafe Culture

Unfortunately, many employees are mistreated in their workplace because of characteristics like race, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.

Considering the fact that they have to put up with bullying or belittling 8 hours a day, they often feel physically and emotionally unsafe.

Working in such a toxic environment can affect their mental health, which will certainly reduce their productivity.

7. Dead-End Job

Lack of opportunities for advancement in the workplace can make you feel trapped, stressed, anxious, and frustrated. It can even diminish your productivity as you have no motivation to prove yourself.

Even though not everyone will become the boss, it’s good to have hope and motivation for going higher.

Quick Tips to Reduce the Stress at Work

• Tell your manager the cause of your stress and ask for help and guidance from them
• Find support in your colleagues when you are in a rough time
• Support your physical and mental health
• Track your stressors and then look for a way to manage them
• Set your boundaries between work life and home life

Is there anything else that makes your workplace stressful? If yes, feel free to share it in the comments.